Sponsors (4)
The bill increases testing, public reporting, and clearer definitions to strengthen confidence and more targeted enforcement of imported organic feed, but it raises compliance and administrative burdens that may disproportionately hurt small businesses and risk short-term supply and price disruptions.
Consumers gain greater transparency and confidence because USDA will test covered imported organic feed annually and publish testing frequency, methods, results, and actions.
Farmers using organic feed are protected because shipments that test above National Organic Program (NOP) residue levels cannot be sold or labeled as organic.
Organic feed producers and importers get clearer statutory definitions and alignment with the Organic Foods Production Act/NOP certificate, reducing regulatory uncertainty and helping customs/USDA target inspections to bulk shipments (which can speed clearance for compliant imports).
Importers and exporters (especially small businesses) face higher compliance costs and potential shipment delays because of mandatory testing, reporting, and tighter exclusion rules for noncompliant shipments.
Farmers and consumers could face supply disruptions and higher prices for organic feed and downstream organic food products if tested shipments are excluded from organic sale.
USDA will incur additional administrative burden to prepare annual, detailed testing reports, which could divert staff and resources from inspections or other program activities.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires USDA to annually test imported bulk organic feedstuffs, keep a confidential risk-based list, report results to Congress, and bar contaminated shipments from organic sale.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by John Peter Ricketts · Last progress April 9, 2025
Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop risk-based protocols and annually test imported organic feedstuffs that are shipped in bulk and covered by a National Organic Program import certificate. The USDA must keep a confidential annual list of covered feedstuffs, conduct residue testing each year, and report testing frequency, methods, results, standards, and any follow-up actions to Congress starting within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter. Any shipment with prohibited residues above levels allowed under the National Organic Program (or an equivalent state program) must be excluded from organic sale and may not be marketed as organic.